On 10/10/2021 11:03 AM, Andrew M.A. Cater wrote:
On Sun, Oct 10, 2021 at 05:14:36AM -0500, Richard Owlett wrote:
On 10/09/2021 10:24 AM, Patrick Bartek wrote:
On Sat, 9 Oct 2021 09:40:21 -0500
Richard Owlett <rowl...@cloud85.net> wrote:
Just be forewarned, WINE is not the catchall solution to running
Windows apps: The more involved codewise the program is like games or
Photoshop, the more problems you'll have.
For context, I've been providing informal support to a local couple for
decades. He is a retired pastor, now a missionary. They need a new computer
and as part of my support, I'll be purchasing a replacement. As I've not
used Windows since WinXP and they are pure Windows users I planned to dual
boot Windows and Debian. Debian primarily for its maintenance tools. I hope
WINE will run enough of their "must have" apps that I can use that as a
selling point to move from Windows to Linux.
In all honesty, I wouldn't do that: don't force a dual boot on anyone
that isn't an expert computer user. They could readily get
confused / boot into the wrong OS.
That was one of my concerns having done that to myself on my own
machines. If I decide to have Debian on their machine it *will be* by
using a VM.
Better, in this instance, to buy a
new computer with Windows and whatever office software they might need
and for you to learn enough to use Windows 10 or 11.
I can use Windows, I just want Debian tools available to me.
If you get Windows Pro, you could readily use Debian over WSL2
if you had to.
Reading https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Subsystem_for_Linux raises
all sorts of "red flags". Reminds me of why I abandoned M$ in days of WinXP.
On a new computer, don't take the risk of making it dual boot,
perhaps having to reinstall Windows, "voiding warranty" and creating
a further rod for your back in support.
Agreed!
This is, perhaps, an unusual viewpoint to take - but I have been involved
in trying to set up a special purpose machine for someone who didn't
appreciate the help that I was endeavouring to provide, queried costs and
so on. > I ended up paying money out of my own pocket to fix items because I was
guilt-tripped into it.
I'm fortunately in a different situation. I've given better support for
free than what they got from the big box store where they bought their
current machine. As part of my support the missions agency I'm supplying
the machine and its upkeep.
In those cases, just run Windows in a virtual machine which is what I do
for ALL Windows apps I need. Less or virtually no gotchas!
As a Linux user, on your own machine, absolutely. Again, you do need to
know what you're doing this for and the limitations of Windows
- it's something I have considered for folk who are predominantly Linux
users but have to use Windows occasionally for work.
On my personal machines I would have no motivation to install a VM.
However, I'll investigate the pros/cons of having their machine run a
VM in which I would run Debian as a demo.
Are there good FOSS or low cost VMs for Windows machines?
Microsoft's WSL2 is the closest you'll get. That and Debian are no cost
options - but in that instance, you have to get your Debian instance
from the Microsoft store.
That requirement eliminates WSL2 from consideration.
I'm investigating Virtualbox and VM Ware.
Thanks
All best, as ever,
Andy Cater
